Spring Bulbs

Just thought I would let everyone know that spring bulbs have arrived at Homebase today! So if you want to get planting early or want to force some Daff bulbs inside for winter now is the time to do it

Hi Matt, Saw spring bulbs too  in Wilkos & B&M yesterday. Wilkos mixed daff bulbs were £3.50 for about 3 Kg  I think.

I'm still waiting for my scabious to produce even one flower and cosmos could be doing a bit better as well I do love Spring bulbs though

Some of my cosmos have produced no flowers at all and are extremely leggy in the ground(to the point where the wind has blown them over) So they are coming out tomorrow as I've had a gutsful of them. Is it too early to be getting spring bulbs in the ground or do you think I should wait a bit?

Daffodils/hyacinths /narcissus fine to go in now-tulips wait until October/November

Or even later with the tulips - mine usually go in in December.

What about Iris/crocus etc?

Yes-anything that is in the shop- is better in the ground than in the shop-but there is plenty of time.

I guess i'll wait about 6 weeks then get them in

Mattbeer87- Some of my Cosmos have started to flower the others are very lush with flower buds developing so I'm holding on to mine. They did need to be stacked today I feel exactly like you about my Scabious however- but I'm just going to leave them where they are and see if I get one full bloom out of them. Ever optimistic

I thought too that the bulbs were slightly earlier in the shops this year but these type of shops are very up to date & seasonal in what they sell.

Our local garden centre has had new stock Christmas cards on sale for over a week!!!

Tim-I bought Christmas cards in January, a box of really expensive looking one's at half price  I'm usually writing them out to catch the last post though

Booth's are cashing in on spring bulbs, they had them in earlier this week, worth a look if you grow in small quantities - 3 packs for £5 or roughly 3 for the price of 2.

Hollie-Hock here are the beds I pulled my cosmos out of. Must have pulled out about 10 plants that were basically glorified Trees. The Cosmos in my large planter however are doing great and theres TONNES of flowers & buds so I'm pretty pleased with those.

Hi Matt,  Lovely Cosmos in the planter , mine are just starting to get going, maybe we are in for a lovely, late show?

I have some of  the white flowers,acidanthera............ I think.  MIne are in pots and are in  no mood to start flowering. I've just a couple of green shoots. Get this feeling that my garden is very,very late- My Lilies have only just come into bloom

On a positive note- I've seen one flower on my Scabioius- and I've seen an insect on it

Out of interest- what are the pink trailing plant in pic 2?

If you mean pic3 then those are Mesembryanthemum. small daisy like  flowers with unusual foliage. They arent trailing so to speak, the cosmos basically flatened them :P

they look good as trailers

my cosmos are doing well.. keep dead heading and more come..

 maybe cuting off the buds may give them new lease and then flower again.. i know the sun is here now and a bit of summer is on its way.. it is 21c on our shady patio at this time of the morning..yesterday even hotter.. might be worth a go.

@hollie-hock.. my scabious not done too well this year.. as weather hot then wet they have suffered mildew so been cutting them back.. i got 3 on mine at the moment but my giant ones.. dont seem to suffer mildew and they are doing very well.. grew from seed and well impressed with them i am.. gorgeous colours.

Those acidanthera are known as Peacock Orchids too, I got them cheap from B&Q earlier in the season. Some of them are just about to flower now which is very late considering my garden is south facing

@mattbeer87. do you lift those each year.. as i planted some my mum gave me.. in pot first year.. then planted out in garden and nothing since..